The regular season for high school football is over, and the playoffs begin this week at locations throughout the state.
So, who you got? The eventual winners, I mean.
I'll go first, primarily because I'm eager to redeem myself after picking Conway over Bryant in a 7A-Central Conference showdown last week. Didn't happen. Not even close.
I'll shrug off the misfire and take aim at predicting the eventual state champions in all six classifications for 11-man football in Arkansas.
CLASS 7A
Remember, folks, Fayetteville is the defending state champion in Class 7A. Not Bryant, not Conway and not Bentonville, which blasted the Bulldogs 41-10 at Tiger Stadium on Oct. 18.
Fayetteville fans shouldn't fret too much because there's plenty of examples where the team that won in conference play got beat by the same team in the state playoffs.
I'm eager to see how Rogers, which has won a combined 33 games the last three seasons after years of struggles, does in the playoffs. Rogers Coach Chad Harbison talked before the season about "getting over the hump" and the Mounties can make that happen with a postseason surge.
But the team to beat is Bryant, which made a statement by whipping Conway 49-14 to end the regular season. Don't forget, Bryant won five consecutive state championships in Arkansas' largest classification before Fayetteville ended the streak last year. The hive has been disturbed, and the Hornets want their title back.
RICK'S PICK: Bryant
CLASS 6A
No reason to spend much time here. Greenwood is the best team in Class 6A, if not the whole state regardless of classification. But the Bulldogs still have to put in the work in the playoffs to turn away really good teams like Benton, which is 9-1 on the season after beating Marion.
Anyone who's watched Greenwood play comes away highly impressed, especially with all-state quarterback Kane Archer leading the way. But I was most impressed in the Shiloh Christian game with Cash Archer, Kane's older brother, who disrupted the Saints' offense from his defensive end position.
I just hope one of our college football programs snatch him up instead of letting him slip away to a program out of state.
RICK'S PICK: Greenwood
CLASS 5A
Valley View is undefeated but Little Rock Parkview is still the team to beat in Class 5A. Joe T. Robinson may have the best shot at dethroning Parkview, which finished 14-0 last season after a 55-12 win over Shiloh Christian in the championship game at War Memorial Stadium.
RICK'S PICK: Little Rock Parkview
CLASS 4A
Elkins earned plenty of statewide respect after winning 13 consecutive games last season before falling to eventual Class 4A state champion Harding Academy in the state semifinals.
You know what else earns statewide respect? Winning a state championship, and I think the Elks under Coach Zach Watson are certainly capable of it.
I've watched Elkins play and the Elks are dynamic on offense and underrated on defense. The Class 4A state playoffs may be the most competitive of all the classifications, but Elkins has the talent and playoff experience to bring home a championship.
RICK'S PICK: Elkins
CLASS 3A
I love this division because I've covered games at the home stadiums of top contenders like Booneville, Fordyce, Osceola and Rivercrest.
Booneville and Fordyce, especially, represent the very best for game day atmospheres in Arkansas for high school football. I always enjoy looking out into the stands this time of year and seeing deer hunters in their orange vests watching football before heading out into the woods.
Prescott has deer hunters, too, but it's mostly known as the home of the Curley Wolves. Prescott only lost 33-29 to top-ranked Bismarck earlier this season, so they're quite capable of winning it all.
RICK'S PICK: Prescott
CLASS 2A
Carlisle is back to challenge for state supremacy after losing 26-21 to East Poinsett County in the championship game last year at War Memorial Stadium.
Junction City is a traditional power that is still lurking and Conway Christian is 10-0 after beating Bigelow to end the regular season. But the Bisons have mostly been unchallenged this year and not even Conway Christian will stop them.
RICK'S PICKS Carlisle
So, who you got?